Opinions Aplenty: The 1992 Readers` Poll Annex Results

January 31, 1992|By Tom Popson.

(Note: No surprise here-the most frequently cited deterrent to attending an outdoor concert was cost, respondents describing the total cost of attending a show as ``outrageous,`` ``ridiculous`` and ``out of this world.`` The logistics of getting to outlying venues, concertgoers who behave in a rude or inconsiderate manner and a lack of interesting or talented performers on tour also received mentions. The difficulty in getting good seats for a show and problems in exiting the parking lot after a show also were cited. Some people, it should be noted, said they went to all the concerts they considered attending last year, and a handful said they went to more shows last year than in previous years. Some noted they`d rather see a show in a club than at an outdoor venue.)

Q-How much of the popular music being released today would you describe as excellent? How much of it would you call terrible?

``Most of the music being released today is very much `machine-like,`

lacking emotion and a human element. There are very few artists who really play music for music`s sake and whose heart is really in their music.`` - Raul Gomez, West Chicago

``It seems like these days all you need to be a singer is a so-so voice and a good synthesizer. Some rap songs seem to be encouraging racism. But the albums made by Mariah Carey, U2 and R.E.M. more than make up for the bad stuff.`` - Jessamine Chan, Oak Park

``Five percent excellent and innovative. Ninety-five percent rubbish/

rehashes of recycled retreads performed by repulsive, rejected idiots!``

``Most popular music reaching the mass market today is pablum, but a few good songs surfaced this past year. 1990 was worse-much worse. If you want percentages, I`d say 80 percent of Top 40 is bad, but we should also remember that only good songs retain an audience into the future. After all, when`s the last time you heard `Afternoon Delight` or `Seasons in the Sun` or `Rock Me Amadeus` on the radio?`` - Mark Heuring, Oak Park

``As far as I can tell, 20 percent of popular music is okay, 2 percent is good, 0 percent is excellent and 78 percent of popular music should be cast into the Flaming Abyss.`` - Mike Kim, Niles

``It seems that the reason popular music becomes `popular` is promotion. The performers who are backed by a record company that is willing to put out the enormous amount of money it takes to get them heard and seen get shoved down the public`s throat and therefor are hard to miss. Occasionally, a band or performer slips through that is talented and even can write a song. When this happens, it is refreshing, but it does not happen enough.`` - Jim Harmon, Carol Stream

``Truly original and truly excellent new releases may occur only twice per year.`` - Bob Klinger, Chicago

``Of the 111 songs in the Top 10 last year, I would call seven of them excellent. I hate all that crud with those mindless, synth-playing, screaming, rapping idiots. I vote the 104 remaining Top 10 singles as the worst of the decade.`` - Jennie Webber, Chicago

``I would say 1 percent of the music today is excellent. The rest is so violent, infantile and plain idiotic that I can`t imagine how it ever gets recorded, much less gets on the radio.`` - Donna E. Foster, Chicago

``I believe that all music being released today is excellent to someone. That`s the wonderful fact about music in the U.S.A.`` - Richard Woulfe, River Forest

(Note: Percentages assigned to excellent, terrible and in-between varied widely from response to response. And what seems excellent to one may sound awful to another. But as a general indication of consumer satisfaction, those who thought the majority of today`s popular music was terrible (or ``bad`` or ``poor`` or ``beyond terrible``) outnumbered those who thought it was excellent or average by more than 3 to 1.)

Next week: CD packaging, the meaning of Michael Jackson`s ``Black or White`` video and guesses about Dan Quayle`s favorite song.